The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-12-15
The TsIegraphic Message.
Woman's Magazine.

John Mills, the hero of this sketch,
was railroa ad engineer, and had been
for long time in the company's en-
ploy. When the new engine $50" was
completed and placed on the road,
John was given charge of it, and he
evinced natural pride in his prefer
ment. At one of the stations there
was ayoungglrl, a telegraph operator,
between whom and the engineer there
had sprungupa warm attachments land
whenever "59" came along, Kate gen.
eraly managed to be at the door
and exchange signals with her lover.
One day the train was detained at the
station, and the locomotive detached
and sent up the road, to do some ad-
ditional work. and Kate went along
Tor a ride. AS she listened to the
sharp, shrill notes OF the whistle,
it occurred to her that she might
teach John to sound her name in the
Morse telegraphic characters, SO that
she could distinguish his signal from
that OF the other engineers, whenever
his train approached. The plan work
ed to a charm, and far and near the
whistle shrieked Kate, until one day,
as the operator stepped upon the
platform, she overheard O. converse
ton between two young men, and
learned that they understood the sig
nal and were laughingly wondering
who "Kate" could be. Their means
of communication having been discov-
cred, they were obliged to discontinue
it. In the meantime Kate had, by
means of the telegraph, made the ac-
quaintance OF young lady, in a dis
tant city, but whom she had never
seen, and to her she made known the
fact that the secret had been discov-
cred. Then her friend suggested a
plan as brilliant as it was ingenious.
1t was simply to arrange a means OF
telegraphic communication between
the approaching train and the sta
ton, SO as to ring bell hidden away
in the closet in Ka:e's Office, engine
"59" being the only one provided
with means of completing the circuit,
which was done by laying the poker
upon the tender-break SO as to touch
the wire in passing. Kate found an
opportunity to acquant John with
the proposed plan, and in the mean
time had found an abandoned wire
which ran for long distance close to
the track, and which she proposed to
use for carrying out her purpose.
Thanksgiving day came soon after,
and John fortunately having q holi-
day he and Kate went bravely to
work, and before the day had ended
the task was complete success.
The dramatic finale of their love epi-
sode is told in the following:
In was singular how absent-minded
and inattentive the operator was on
the day that the great scientific en-
terprise was finished. No wonder she
was disturbed. Would her little bat
terry be strong enough for such a great
circuit? Would John be able to close
it? The people began to assemble for
the train. The clock pointed to the
hour for its arrival.
Suddenly, with startling distinct
ness, the bell rang clear and loud in
the echoing room. With d cry of de-
light she put on her dainty hat and
ran in haste out upon the platform.
The whistle broke loud and clear OH
the cool. crisp, air, and $50" ap-
peared around the curve in the woods.
The sl)endid monster slid swiftly up
to her feet and paused.
"Perfect, John! Perfect! 1t works TO
a charm"
With spring she reached the cab
and sat down on the fireman's seat.
BLESSED ii could tell what he was
going to do" said the fireman. "He
told me about it. Awful bright idea!
You see. he laid the poker on the ten
der brake there, and it hit the tree
slam. and l saw the wires touch. 1t
was just prime!'
But the happy moments sped, and
"69" groaned and slowly departed.
while Kate stood on the platform, her
face wreathed in smiles and white
steam.
So the lovers met each day, and
none knew how she was made aware
of his. approach with absolute cer
tainity. Science applied to love or
rather love applied to science, can
move the world.
Two weeks passed, and then there
suddenly arrived at the station, late
one evening, special with the direc
tors car attached. The honorable
directors were hungry-they always
are-and would pause on their Jour-
ney and take cup of tea and a bit of
supper. The honorables and their
wives and children filled the station,
and the place put on quiet a gala as
pect. AS for Kate, she demurely sat
in her den, book in hand, and over its
unread pages admired the gay party
in the brightly lighted waiting room.
Suddenly, with furious rattle, her
electric bell sprang into noisy life.
Every spark of color left her face, and
her book fell with q dusty slam to the
floor. What was it? What did it
mean? Who rangit? With affrighted
face she burst from her office and
brushed through the astonished peo-
pie and out upon the show-covered
platform. There stood the directors
train upon the track OF the oncoming
train.
''The conductors! Where is he? Oh,
sir! Start! Start! Get to the siding!
The express is coming"
With cry she snatched q lantern
frcm brakeman's hand, and i'll a
flash was gone. They saw her light
pitching and dancing, through the
darkness, and they were lost in won
der and amazement. The girl is crazy!
No train is due now! There can be
no danger. She must be-
All! that horrible whistle. Such q
wild shrek on winters night! The
men sprang to the train, and the
women and children fled in frantic
Aorror -, ovorx- Iiroctinn